Rack for bicycles

ABSTRACT

A rack is disclosed for regulating the parking of bicycles. The rack includes a base that provides flexibility in length and at least one pair of restraints installed on the base. The base includes a first lateral tube, a second lateral tube and at least one pair of transverse tubes. The first lateral tube includes a central portion and two ends extending from the central portion. The second lateral tube includes a central portion and two ends extending from the central portion. Each transverse tube includes a first end connected to one of the ends of the first lateral tube and a second end connected to one of the ends of the second lateral tube. The pair of restraints is installed on the pair of transverse tubes.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to bicycles and, more particularly, to a rack for bicycles in order to regulate the parking of the bicycles.

2. Related Prior Art

As disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 496336, a rack 1 includes two tracks 3 anchored to the ground or a floor and a pair of restraints secured to the tracks 3 by means of a plurality of fasteners 2. A plurality of slots 31 is defined in each track 3. Each restraint includes a straight bone 12 and an arched bone 11 formed on the straight bone 12. The straight bones 12 are connected to each other by means of two mounts 13. The mounts 13 are connected to the straight bones 12 through soldering. Two slots 131 are defined in each mount 13. The fasteners 2 are inserted through some of the slots 31 and the slots 131 in order to install the pair of restraints on the tracks 3. Each arched bone 11 includes a vertical portion 111 and an inclined portion 112. The vertical portions 111 of the arched bones 111 are connected to each other by means a connector 14 in order to enhance the rigidity of the pair of restraints. A problem with the rack 1 is that the number of bicycles that can be restrained is determined when the length of the tracks 3 is set. Another problem with the rack 1 is the inconvenience to use this conventional rack since a wheel of a bicycle can only be put between a pair of restraints from the gap between the inclined portions 112 of the arched bones 11.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a rack is disclosed for regulating the parking of bicycles. The rack includes a base that provides flexibility in length and at least one pair of restraints installed on the base.

The primary advantage of the rack according to the present invention is that the base provides flexibility in length and hence flexibility in the number of pairs of restraints and hence flexibility in the number of bicycles of which the parking can be regulated by the rack.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of embodiments referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rack according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the rack shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rack according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of two bicycles restrained by means of the rack shown in FIG. 3 in a manner.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two bicycles restrained by means of the rack shown in FIG. 3 in another manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a rack includes a base and a pair of inverted V-shaped bones 30 installed on the base. The base is a frame consisting of a first transverse tube 10, a second transverse tube 20, a first lateral tube 50 and a second lateral tube 60.

The first transverse tube 10 includes a reduced end 111. In the first transverse tube 10 are defined two apertures 12 each for receiving an end of an inverted V-shaped bone 30.

The second transverse tube 20 includes a reduced end 21. In the second transverse tube 20 are defined two apertures 22 each for receiving an end of an inverted V-shaped bone 30.

The first lateral tube 50 includes a central portion put perpendicular to the first transverse tube 10 and the second transverse tube 20 and two ends put parallel to the same. The reduced end 11 of the first transverse tube 10 is inserted in an end of the first lateral tube 50. The reduced end 21 of the second transverse tube 20 is inserted in the other end of the first lateral tube 50.

The second lateral tube 60 includes a central portion put perpendicular to the first transverse tube 10 and the second transverse tube 20 and two reduced ends 61 put parallel to the same. The other end of the first transverse tube 10 receives a reduced end of the second lateral tube 60. The other end 21 of the second transverse tube 20 receives the other reduced end of the second lateral tube 60.

As discussed in the foregoing two paragraphs, the first transverse tube 10, the second transverse tube 20, the first lateral tube 50 and the second lateral tube 60 are assembled so as to form the base.

The inverted V-shaped bones 30 are connected with each other by means of a connecting and marking element 40. The connecting and marking element 40 includes two looped ends for receiving the inverted V-shaped bones 30. The rigidity of the combination of the inverted V-shaped bones 30 is enhanced by means of the connecting and marking element 40. A name or a number of a user can be marked on the connecting and marking element 40.

A fastener (not numbered) is driven in an end of each inverted V-shaped bone 30 through an aperture 11. A fastener (not numbered) is driven into an opposite end of each inverted V-shaped bone 30 through an aperture 21. Thus, the pair of inverted V-shaped bones 30 is installed on the base.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a rack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except including a plurality of pairs of inverted V-shaped bones 30 and the same number of tubes 10 and the same number of tubes 20.

Referring to FIG. 4, the rear wheel 72 of a bicycle 70 is restrained between a pair of inverted V-shaped bones 30, while the front wheel 71 of another bicycle 70 is restrained between another pair of inverted V-shaped bones 30.

Referring to FIG. 5, the rear wheel 72 of a bicycle 70 is restrained between a pair of inverted V-shaped bones 30, and the rear wheel 72 of another bicycle 70 is restrained between another pair of inverted V-shaped bones 30.

It is inconvenient to use the rack of the present invention since a wheel of a bicycle can only be put between a pair of inverted V-shaped bones 30 in two directions.

The present invention has been described through the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A rack comprising a base that provides flexibility in length and at least one pair of restraints installed on the base.
 2. The rack according to claim 1 wherein the base comprises: a first lateral tube comprising a central portion and two ends extending from the central portion; a second lateral tube comprising a central portion and two ends extending from the central portion; at least one pair of transverse tubes each comprising a first end connected to one of the ends of the first lateral tube and a second end connected to one of the ends of the second lateral tube, wherein the pair of restraints is installed on the pair of transverse tubes.
 3. The rack according to claim 2 wherein the first end of each of the transverse tubes is a reduced end inserted in one of the ends of the first lateral tube, wherein each of the ends of the second lateral tube is a reduced end inserted in the second end of one of the transverse tubes.
 4. The rack according to claim 2 wherein each of the transverse tubes defines two apertures through each of which a fastener is driven into one of the ends of the restraints.
 5. The rack according to claim 2 wherein comprising a plurality of pairs of transverse tubes and a plurality of pairs of restraints installed on the pairs of transverse tubes.
 6. The rack according to claim 1 comprising a connecting and marking element provided between the restraints.
 7. The rack according to claim 6 wherein the connecting and marking element comprises two looped ends in each of which one of the ends of one of the restraints is inserted.
 8. The rack according to claim 2 wherein the transverse bones define a space that is open on both sides.
 9. The rack according to claim 1 wherein the restraints are inverted V-shaped elements.
 10. The rack according to claim 1 wherein the ends extend perpendicular to the central portion of the first lateral tube.
 11. The rack according to claim 1 wherein the ends extend perpendicular to the central portion of the second lateral tube. 